During this observation, focus on how class begins. Where is your CT before class begins? What is he or she doing? Using the clock on the wall, determine when your CT establishes order and begins class. How did she/he start their lesson? How is homework from the previous night reviewed/collected/assessed? How does your CT engage students during the opening of the lesson?
Observations: At the middle school before the start of class, as the students file into the classroom, my cooperating teacher stands by the door greeting students, asking about how they did in sports events, how they're weekend went, and questions of the like. When everyone's in, the door closes and Mr. Barnes puts the question of the day on the overhead. Students each have a folder at the front of the room with a journal in it, and they each grab those folders while Mr. Barnes is writing the question. The questions sometimes relate to science, other times current events, this time it was about the students opinion on NECAP testing. Students write a half page answer to the question, and have 7 minutes to finish. During that 7 minutes Mr.Barnes checkts homework and if students have their materials but having them answer yes or no to roll call. He then walks around and takes the homework, and has them put their journals back. When everyone's sitting down again he begins talking about what they are spending the rest of the class working on and then they get to it.
Reflections: I feel that the students do get focused a bit more quickly because they have the routine of the journals, they know everyday to get the journals started right away when they get to class. This is a good way of having them start class immediately because they know they have a time limit to finish by. The only thing I don't like as much is the transition between putting away journals and starting the first activities/lesson. Students talk a lot and try goofing around, stopping at friends desks to chat, and those who finish early distract others by socializing. I think perhaps this could be remedied if the teacher allowed students to hang on to their journals until after class, and have them put them away as they leave the room for the next period. And I do feel that students are engaged during the beginning of the class because Mr. Barnes usually talks to them about the question for the first few moments, but when the actual lesson begins I don't think there is much student engagement at all.
Observations: At the middle school before the start of class, as the students file into the classroom, my cooperating teacher stands by the door greeting students, asking about how they did in sports events, how they're weekend went, and questions of the like. When everyone's in, the door closes and Mr. Barnes puts the question of the day on the overhead. Students each have a folder at the front of the room with a journal in it, and they each grab those folders while Mr. Barnes is writing the question. The questions sometimes relate to science, other times current events, this time it was about the students opinion on NECAP testing. Students write a half page answer to the question, and have 7 minutes to finish. During that 7 minutes Mr.Barnes checkts homework and if students have their materials but having them answer yes or no to roll call. He then walks around and takes the homework, and has them put their journals back. When everyone's sitting down again he begins talking about what they are spending the rest of the class working on and then they get to it.
Reflections: I feel that the students do get focused a bit more quickly because they have the routine of the journals, they know everyday to get the journals started right away when they get to class. This is a good way of having them start class immediately because they know they have a time limit to finish by. The only thing I don't like as much is the transition between putting away journals and starting the first activities/lesson. Students talk a lot and try goofing around, stopping at friends desks to chat, and those who finish early distract others by socializing. I think perhaps this could be remedied if the teacher allowed students to hang on to their journals until after class, and have them put them away as they leave the room for the next period. And I do feel that students are engaged during the beginning of the class because Mr. Barnes usually talks to them about the question for the first few moments, but when the actual lesson begins I don't think there is much student engagement at all.
Class Topic: Weather
Grade: 7
Observed by: Jen C